Elizabeth Shepherd

Who is Elizabeth Shepherd?

Elizabeth Shepherd is a Canadian, Montreal-based singer, songwriter, pianist, arranger and producer. Along with artists such as Esperanza Spalding and Jose James, she is often credited with invigorating and reinventing the jazz song and bringing jazz influenced music to a younger audience. Real Detroit Weekly called her "a jazz virtuoso blessed with a pop sensibility", while The London Evening Standard described her as an "insightful singer/songwriter of evident talent and originality".

Shepherd arrived on the international jazz scene when her debut album, Start to Move, was voted among the Top 3 jazz albums of 2006 by the listeners of The Gilles Peterson Show on BBC Radio 1. This collection of mostly original material was nominated for a Juno award in 2007.

Although Start to Move would be found in the jazz section at your local music shop, Elizabeth’s blend of jazz-funk, soul, blues and samba reaches far beyond just the jazz massive. Besides is a collection of dancefloor remixes, b sides, exclusives and unreleased gems designed to appeal to all music lovers.

Shepherd's second album of new music Parkdale, released in May 2008, deals sympathetically with its Toronto neighbourhood namesake, which is known for its grit. The album, produced by London-based producer/DJ Nostalgia 77, was also nominated for a Juno award in 2009.